Things I Just Don't Get: French Manicures

My inbox is finally unclogged of all those Black Friday deals. Whew! I don't think I've ever received so many emails about sales and giveaways in my life! I got through Thanksgiving without spending a dime on stuff I don't need, so I'm celebrating with the second installment of Things I Just Don't Get (in case you missed it, here's the first one). Today we're looking at French manicures. This probably isn't going to be of interest to my male readers. (Do I have any male readers, aside from Oliver, my dad and my pop-in-law? I'm not sure. Holla atchya' girl if you're a dude and you read my blog.) French manicures, for those who don't know (and/or don't care, and/or are dudes), are a type of manicure designed to resemble natural nails, characterized by pink-ish/nude base nails and white tips. Like so:

Image courtesy Stylist

Some say the style originated in eighteenth century Paris, and was popular in the U.S. in the 1920s and 1930s. Others say Max Factor invented the look for Parisienne fashionistas in the 1930s. What most people like about them is the versatility; they can be quite classy, at once polished but not flashy, and coordinate with a variety of outfits. I've always had a slight aversion to them because I've thought they were a bit tacky. That's because most French manicures currently look like this:


Or worse, this:

See? Kind of tacky, no? As is often the case, when the high-style hits the unwashed masses, it gets bastardized and transforms into a horse of a different color. Like anything, when done well, this look is elegant and sophisticated, but when done poorly, it runs the risk of looking trashy and cheap.

Apparently, there is a difference between the French manicure and the American (French) manicure, which features a beige base, as opposed to the pink base used in the French version. Why beige? Why choose to look slightly dead? I do not know. The American version also presents a more square nail shape, another feature I do not understand. However, my biggest pet peeve with French manicures is when they are applied to the TOES:

There are so many things wrong with this image - the color, the nail shape, the feet. FUNK. And not in a good way.

Well, a few seasons ago, haute couture introduced a re-imagined French manicure with a twist: crazy colors in new locations, often referred to as a reverse French manicure. I love a short, dark nail (mine are almost always short and painted some deep red, purple or springy pink) and there's something about bringing in two colors that I find ballsy and fun.




YSL images via 80s Purple


Miss Dita Von Teasing-You-With-Her-Funky-Nails

Via The Frisky

However, it's when the high-fashion is misinterpreted by very low fashion that gets me:

Ack!

If you're feeling gusty, here's a video on how to create your very own funky reverse French mani:

Giving Thanks

Image via Fiskars

The day is upon us; tomorrow is Thanksgiving. Hosts and hostesses near and far will soon no doubt be planning, scurrying around, sending family members out for last minute ingredients, testing the electrical loads of their houses by running the oven, stove, microwave, air conditioner and fans all day, kids will be hiding from parents so they don't get roped into doing chores, greeting guests (my least favorite task), fluffing pillows, replenishing plates of crackers while everyone munches and leading small-talk conversations.

For us, Thanksgiving is falling at a very hectic time. Not to worry; we'll have plenty of time to catch our breath when we're jobless and homeless in Austin (help!) I'll tell you this: I'm glad I don't have to fly this year, and be subjected to The Gov'ment's Great Junk-Touching Airport Security Experiment! (Hint: turn on the sound)

Dodged a bullet there, for real.

I digress. Thanks to the move and the most outrageous last few weeks of work, I've managed to get exempted from any Thanksgiving-related prepwork and/or participation. I couldn't tell you where our baking paraphernalia is right now and I've been working loooong days, making me pretty useless in the party planning realm. That doesn't mean I'm disinterested in what's going on in Thanksgiving Tablescape Land. Far from it – I'm seeing lots of lovely ideas this year. By now you know I'm not much for overly literal, theme-y decor, with the worst Thansgiving offender being decorating with root vegetables bursting forth from a random horn, por ejemplo:


This one has that we-are-the-world slash kumbaya slash vintage thing working in it's favor, so I'll give it a pass:


I have to admit I am a sucker for glammed-up, gold-flocked root vegetables, which is marginally tacky of me, but I think it's clever:


Wow. I digressed again, and I'm being totally snarks-ville. It's been that kind of month, ok? Forgive me. Onto the point: thanksgiving/fall/harvest-y decorations, of course! Here are some gems:

Image courtesy Martha Stewart

I'll never say no to burlap – or personalized napkins made of burlap:

Image courtesy Country Living


Martha's modern table

Eddie Ross is pretty much the reigning king (queen?) of tabletop styling. He pulls out all the stops every time. This is from a feature in Lonny:



Martha again. I can't help it – she's killing it this year! These cornhusk votives are so ethereal paired with the plum roses


As seen in House Beautiful, featuring Grandin Road wares


Image courtesy Country Living

Let's throw a bone to the kids for good measure. Those poor souls have to sit through the most boring adult conversations tomorrow:

Image from Fiskars

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday!

In Bed with Dwell Studio

The last two weeks have been a whirlwind of busy-ness and I suspect this week, though a short one, will be similarly hectic. I love what I do, but sometimes people, circumstances and things that are out of my control really test that love. During those times, I often say I just want to crawl back into bed and wake up next week or next month – whenever it will all be over and I can go back to hunky-dory land. Of course, climbing back into bed and sleeping through tough times is not an option; I take my responsibilities very seriously! BUT, if I were to crawl into bed (i.e. bury my head in the sand), I'll tell you I'd want to swath myself in bedding from Dwell Studio.


Peacock Dove Duvet Set

Peacock Citrine Duvet Set

Gate Ashe Duvet Set


Draper Stripe Ash Duvet Set – I went for the rumply image here because it just looks so irresistibly comfy!

Sheet sets, pillows, bedskirts and throws are all sold separately, but coordinate beautifully with the duvets to create fashionable statement beds that are approachable and don't look like they all came from the same place, resulting in a collected look. Of course, phenomenal styling doesn't hurt.


Tossing a fun pillow or two in the mix really dresses up a bed!

Diamond Ikat Azure Pillow


Gate Citrine Pillow

Bedskirts can be so frilly and over-the-top. Not these. I love the matelasse options on the bottom!


Dwell Studio isn't just about bedding; with accessories, gifts, gorgeous rugs, stationary, table linens, window treatments, and now wallpaper, all featuring their ever-increasing pattern options, Dwell Studio is quickly becoming a one-stop home shop!

If the prices are a little steep (and they certainly can be), Dwell Studio has partnered with Target (see Dwell Studio for Target) to offer their gorgeous styles for a lot less. We are proud owners of such bedding, which made it all the way to Apartment Therapy!

Typographic Pillow from Veer

I swear, Dwell Studio isn't paying me to write all this. I just really love their products. It's Monday morning – the first day of a new week. I have high hopes that all the kinks of the last two weeks will be ironed out this week, but if not, I know what I'll want to wrap myself in at the end of the day!

Things I'll Miss in New York

Now that the move is official, we are often asked about what we'll miss most when we leave New York. As excited as I am for our move, there is certainly a lot I will miss about this city! Last Sunday I had brunch in Chelsea with one of my oldest friends. After eating (snarfing) we wandered over to 17th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues, one my favorite stretch of thrift shops. So, here we are, with my first installment of things I'll miss about New York.

An all-time favorite shop is Pippin Vintage, which actually has two stores; jewelry and home goods. I stumbled on Pippin Vintage Jewelry when I embarked on the quest for the perfect engagement ring back in 2007 (with the help of my friend, who was with me on this lovely weekend afternoon!). Pippin had some great options, but ultimately I designed my own, based on a few vintage designs I loved. No matter, I've been a Pippin patron ever since!



As you can see, the store is chock full of treasures, and it's all displayed so beautifully – and it's not all jewelry; there are sumptuous fur coats and hats, as well as vintage buttons, scarves and gloves.

Right next door, the home store is a must every time I'm on 17th Street (and let me tell you, sometimes I go out of my way to get over to 17th so I just have to stop in).


That long hall of mirrors just beckons me! (I walked out with a mirror once...)

Beyond the hall, there is a little "front yard" with goodies:

And the main store is set in a charming wood frame house, a perfect setting for a little vintage shop.


I've come home with a handful of things, but always have to resist bringing back more. The shop owners are friendly and highly knowledgeable, making shopping there a pleasure. Every time I go in they've re-arranged a bit to make room for new wares. My first job in interior design taught me the importance of keeping a store fresh – and thereby moving lots of merchandise – was to constantly rotate and re-style. If you give a new home to something that's been sitting around for a while, unnoticed, it never fails that someone will suddenly see it and inquire about it. Successful merchandising at work: thank you Brian (my dear friend, former boss and showroom manager at Palecek in San Francisco). Pippin definitely employs this tactic, and it works!

I was really tempted to buy the little George and Martha Washington silhouette in the back. I had to remind myself that we're moving and now is not the time to bring stuff home. Damn conscience.



My next stop is always Angel Street Thrift Shop, a bustling store from which I've emerged with countless pieces of milk glass, a snazzy cut glass decanter, tumblers and two framed maps of olde world France and Spain. The shop isn't styled as well as Pippin, but that hasn't deterred me from finding tons of treasures.

The store was in the midst of a re-arragement session, so snapping a great photo was a little tough. But, you should go :)

Next up: the forever amazing Housing Works, which has ten locations (nine in Manhattan, one in Brooklyn). Housing Works does a pretty good job of merchandising in the stores, but their showstoppers are their windows, which contain items for auction. Current windows. left and right:


Images courtesy Housing Works

Just inside the shop:

Housing Works sells clothing and accessories in addition to house wares. The organization is very prominent in the home design fundraising world, which I've written about before.

West Elm is on the block, and while it's technically a big box store, they are killing it this year with cute but not at all junky ornaments and holiday decor. Definitely worth a look. Also on this beloved block is From the Source, the incredible showroom that displayed eight of Oliver's paintings for a few months (we just took them down to pack them up for the move).

Thus concludes my tour of 17th Street. If any of you have ever been to these stores, I'd love to know (and see) what you purchased!

Heart Burn

A misleading title, indeed. Oliver stretched his arm over a pot of steamy rice the other night and woke up the next day with a burn in the shape of a heart. For whatever reason, we thought it was worth photographing and sharing with you. Art is everywhere, friends, and Oliver is living proof. Enjoy your Tuesday!

Pahking the Cahh in the Haavid Yahd

So, we didn't park a car in the Harvard Yard (hello, illegal!) but we did walk around it one weekend in October when we took a little journey to Boston with our pal, Mara, to visit her sister Liz and brother-in-law, Dave. They have a fantastic (read: enviable, spacious, bright, charming) apartment in a three-decker in Brighton. Somehow, I managed to take no pictures of the apartment, which is a real shame, because Liz and Dave are seriously industrious and their creations are worth documenting. She is an expert canner/preserver (we are gracious recipients of scrumptious home-made jam), Dave brews his own beer, and they've been pickling, and making mustards, pates and salsas. It was a warm and sunny weekend for a jaunt to New England, timed perfectly to see some gorgeous autumn leaves.


The world-famous Harvard Yard

We kicked off our adventure on Saturday at Head of the Charles Regatta, the world's largest two-day rowing event, with more than 8,000 athletes from around the world competing in 55 races.


Liz and Dave


Mara and Oliver

That night we were treated to a delicious home-made charcuterie dinner by Liz and Dave before a night on the town (which ended fairly early for Mara, Oliver and me, since we'd gotten up at the crack of dawn). On Sunday, we strolled around Cambridge and Harvard before heading to the bus. Boston and Cambridge are great because there's top-notch examples of Greek and Gothic Revival New England architecture at every turn.

Entering the campus









I recently mentioned that raw plaster is a trend on the rise in interiors. Well, as an old professor used to say, there's nothing new under the sun; as the plaster work on this building shows.


That's John Harvard in the distance.


Departing the campus

My dad is a proud Harvard graduate (Class of 1954!), so I gave him a call while we roamed the campus and he pointed us in the direction of is dorms and various buildings.

Thayer Hall, former home to my dad and Teddy Roosevelt. Not bad company, eh?

I couldn't resist sharing these photos of my dad in his Harvard days.

My dapper father is second from the left


Front and center (with the mitt), my dad as captain of the Harvard baseball team